When using security printing for product protection, deploying magnetic or conductive inks can increase the number of ways in which the printed information on a package or label can be authenticated. This approach is commonly used with bank checks, where the routing and account numbers are printed at the bottom of the check in MICR (magnetic ink character recognition) ink and can be authenticated both visually using OCR (optical character recognition) and magnetically via an electronic check reader. As improved conductive inks are developed for use in inkjet printing, additional approaches may be deployed in which two or more methods can be used to authenticate printed information.In this paper we examine the print quality of MICR ink and a new silver-based conductive ink. We use the 2D DataMatrix bar code as a test vehicle for verifying print quality. We also implement structural pre-compensation to increase the range of module sizes which authenticate. We then examine the feasibility and difficulty of counterfeiting a personal bank check and discuss the issues surrounding authentication approaches.
Jason S. Aronoff, Steven J. Simske, "Evaluation of Conductive Inks for Anti-Counterfeiting Deterrents" in Proc. IS&T Int'l Conf. on Digital Printing Technologies and Digital Fabrication (NIP24), 2008, pp 769 - 772, https://doi.org/10.2352/ISSN.2169-4451.2008.24.1.art00077_2